Critical Conversations: ART and COMMENTARY

In partnership with the State Library of South Australia, Critical Conversations is a new program that connects artists and audiences to explore the big ideas behind our productions, featuring leading creative, academic, and political voices who delve into the themes of selected plays from the season.

ART and COMMENTARY
Ego, art and ethics in an era of public reckoning

We’re joined by an insightful panel, including Host for the evening, ABC Adelaide presenter Jo Laverty, actor Emma Beech, Deputy Director of the Art Gallery of South Australia Emma Fey and Adelaide Film Festival Director Mat Kesting.

Date: Monday 6 July 2026

Time: 5.30pm for a 6.00pm start. Concluding at 7.00pm.

Location: Hetzel Lecture Theatre
Institute Building, State Library of South Australia
North Terrace, Adelaide 5000.

Tickets: $10 including a wine from The Lane

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Please contact marketing@statetheatrecompany.com.au if you have any questions.

Jo Laverty

Experienced broadcaster Jo Laverty joined ABC Radio Adelaide at the beginning of 2024.

Her radio career began as a teenager with a traineeship in broadcasting with Hot 100 Darwin, which was followed by several years of moving around Australia (including a stint at Port Augusta) to work in commercial radio.

At the turn of the millennium, Jo began with the ABC; first with Triple J (when she was young and cool) and then with ABC Radio Canberra (when she was old enough to know when to go to bed).

Her areas of interest include history, society, science, and those endlessly fascinating things which we generally take for granted.

Jo is beyond ecstatic to get a chance to make great radio in a city she has always loved.

Emma Fey

Emma Fey is a respected cultural and community sector leader with extensive experience in arts, higher education and not-for-profit management. Emma is Deputy Director of the Art Gallery of South Australia, leading the portfolios of audience and programming, philanthropy and partnerships, brand and commercial operations, and is the Co-Chair of Artlink, a national publisher for writing on contemporary art and ideas. Emma’s experience includes CEO of Guildhouse, South Australia’s peak body for visual artists, craftspeople and designers, and not for profit board and advisory positions across the disability, arts and education sectors. Emma was awarded the Hansen CEW Executive Leadership in the Arts Scholarship in 2025.

Emma Beech

Emma Beech started making shows for her mum in her bedroom when she was six. Since then, she has graduated from Flinders Drama Centre, worked in theatre, screen and developed a practice developing theatre shows from intimate conversations with other humans, from strangers to her dad. The best of these moments Emma collects together to make a show, and she is constantly seeking to replicate the joy and art of a great conversation on stage. Her work is often direct address, and montages stories, gestures and physical narratives that are collected from interviews, conversations, confessions and observations with imaginings of everything in between. Emma works with collaborators that include installation-theatre companies Carte Blanche, Group 38 and August and September, in Denmark, and Patch Theatre, The Rabble, Arts House, Open Space Contemporary Arts, State Theatre Company of South Australia and Vitalstatistix, in Australia. She is a founding member of the Australian Bureau of Worthiness, through which she creates residency-made performance works.

Mat Kesting

Mat Kesting is CEO and Creative Director of the Adelaide Film Festival, leading the
organisation’s vision and programming with a focus on bold storytelling and audience
engagement. With extensive experience across Australian film festivals and cultural
programming, he is committed to supporting filmmakers and growing South Australia’s
screen culture globally.